The new Yaris Hybrid: A quiet revolution in the B-Segment [Part 1 ...

Everyone knows that green is the new black. It should therefore come as no surprise that Brad, Angelina, Jennifer, George and Leonardo are amongst an ever-increasing list of A-listers who have opted to sashay down Rodeo Drive in hybrids. While some may balk at the idea of the Hollywood jet set flaunting their organic ?Free Trade? cotton T-shirts, there is no denying that the human race is heading towards an environmental meltdown unless some serious green-fingered intervention takes place.

Now we aren?t claiming to have found the cure for global warming, but there are three incontrovertible truths about Toyota?s Hybrid Synergy Drive? (HSD):

1. You will drastically cut down on your fuel consumption
2. You will radically reduce hazardous emissions (much lower particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions than a diesel, plus there?s no particulate filter to go wrong)
3. You will be helping to protect the environment.

The new Yaris HSD epitomises this ethos. Featuring a new powertrain that has been optimised for installation within the vehicle?s compact, extremely efficient packaging design it delivers without detriment to performance, passenger accommodation or loadspace. The downsized hybrid system combines a substantially re-engineered 1.5 litre petrol engine with a lighter, more compact electric motor, transaxle, inverter and battery pack. With low fuel consumption (average fuel consumption of just 3.8 l/100 km), low environmental impact, strong acceleration, great manoeuvrability and unique all-electric EV capabilities, it represents the ultimate urban car.

According to Kerry Roodt, General Manager of Marketing Communications, the new Yaris HSD marks a number of industry firsts: ?Toyota has taken its sophisticated HSD drivetrain and squeezed it into the popular Yaris, making it the smallest full hybrid in the world, not forgetting of course that it carries the most affordable price tag. With emissions of just 88g/km, it?s also officially South Africa?s lowest carbon emitter.?

?But, what makes the Yaris HSD truly impressive is that it?s a no-compromise package. The CVT transmission has been refined to provide a natural acceleration feel, boot space is not sacrificed due to the fact that the batteries are stowed underneath the rear seats and, like its Auris sibling, this is a hybrid that doesn't feel the need to shout its green credentials to every casual observer, a few fetching aesthetically-enhancing aerodynamics aside. To summarise then, the Yaris HSD is much more than just another new product, it represents a major step in the company?s full hybrid roll-out strategy,? concludes Roodt.

Aerodynamic Design

The Yaris Hybrid differentiates itself from the other Yaris derivatives with an exclusive, aerodynamically-efficient exterior design which instantly identifies it as the flagship of the Yaris model range.

It combines a new, more aggressive, frontal design treatment - the distinctive ?family? Toyota face is still there but with HSD detailing reinforced by hybrid-specific LED lights. Flanked by front aero corner treatments, the strong centre section of the lower bumper houses a larger, trapezoidal lower grille optimising engine bay cooling whilst emphasising the new hybrid?s ground-hugging stance and low centre of gravity.

A slimmer upper grille, elegantly sculpted to highlight the hybrid-blue Toyota badge and accented by slim headlights, emphasises the new hybrid?s bold, horizontal front styling. Exclusive to the Yaris Hybrid, the projector-type headlamp unit features standard chrome-plated ?eyebrows? lipped with an LED ?lightguide?, and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

In profile, identified by hybrid badging and alloys (XS and XR), the new hybrid shares the stylish, cab-forward silhouette and long wheelbase profile of the standard Yaris. The exterior overall length is only 20 mm longer than the standard Yaris due to the revised front bumper design.

To the rear, the hybrid-blue badged tailgate incorporates a new, LED-type high mounted stop light, and clear lens combination lights incorporate a LED tail and stop lamp signature unique to the new Yaris Hybrid.

Sized to optimise hybrid powertrain cooling, both upper and lower front grilles have been carefully shaped to both smooth and maximise the intake of air into the engine bay. The profiles of the front bumper aero corners, bonnet, steeply raked A pillar, door mirrors, roofline, rear spoiler, rear bumper aero corners, the rear combination lamps and even the wheels have all been designed to maximise the Yaris Hybrid?s aerodynamic efficiency.

In addition, numerous underbody airflow rectification components have been adopted to create a flat surface, smoothing the flow of air under the new Yaris Hybrid. These include a front spoiler, a large engine undercover, and front, centre and rear deflectors. A rear undercover incorporates vertical fins which create a laminar flow effect to enhance ride stability. As a result, Toyota?s new full hybrid boasts a class-leading drag coefficient of just Cd 0.286.

Rounding off the new package are standard 15? alloy wheels, and a range of six body colours including a model-specific new ?Pearl White? execution. Toyota pioneered this Pearl White finish, which has required the introduction of a bespoke production process at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) plant where the new hybrid is built. Reinforcing the Yaris Hybrid?s uniquely stylish and environmentally-conscientious design credentials, the new colour delivers a cool, high quality image (particularly in sunlight) when the soft, silken lustre of pearl is at its strongest.

The Yaris HSD is available in two trim grades ? mid-spec XS and high-grade XR ? both of which feature a generous list of standard kit. The only external differentiators between the two being the inclusion of front fog lights, privacy glass for the rear side windows and a rear spoiler for the flagship XR model.

On the safety front, the 5-star EuroNCAP rated Yaris gets ABS (with EBD and BAS) as well as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). In XS guise, the Yaris comes standard with four airbags (driver, passenger and side airbag system) while the XR grade gets a total of seven thanks to the additional curtain shield and driver knee airbags.

Bespoke, Hybrid-Exclusive Interior

On board, Yaris Hybrid customers benefit from a driver-focused cockpit with hybrid-exclusive details and trim finishes.

Silver ring-trimmed, three dimensional instrument dials incorporate a hybrid system indicator and feature a combination of white and blue backlighting. The centre console-mounted ?Toyota Touch? system incorporates a hybrid energy monitor illuminated in blue as well as the dual zone air-conditioning.

The dashboard soft-touch pads and front door trims are finished in an exclusive, Ice Grey colour, and blue stitching trims the leather/cloth upholstery (XR only), steering wheel and hand brake. A unique gear lever to the hybrid derivative comes standard with blue finish on the gear knob. It goes without saying that both Yaris HSD models come with a well stocked larder of standard equipment.

Here?s a rundown of some the most important standard kit:
? Automatic climate control with seperate temperature controls for driver and front passenger;
? Remote central locking
? Touchscreen* audio incorporating Bluetooth and on-board computer with hybrid-specific ?Eco? functions;
? Audio jack with USB port;
? Steering wheel controls (audio and Bluetooth);
? Height-adjustable driver?s seat;
? 3-spoke leather steering wheel (height- and tilt-adjustable);
? Follow-me-home headlights.

XR models get the flagship treatment by adding some of these items to the standard equipment menu:
? Push-start button;
? Iluminated glovebox with cooling function;
? Back monitor (image shown in the centre touchscreen display);
? 8-speaker sound system (as opposed to the 6-speaker system for the XS);
? Electrically-adjustable rear windows;
? Combination leather/fabric upholstery trim;
? Height-adjustable front passenger seat;
? Electrochromatic rear-view mirror;
? Cruise control;
? Illuminated vanity mirrors;
? Rain-sensing windscreen wipers;
? Auto light control system.

The Toyota Touch system incorporates a Hybrid Energy Monitor which displays the real-time energy flow within the Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Vehicle information displays include remaining fuel range, instant fuel consumption, average fuel consumption per minute over the last 15 minutes, time elapsed since last engine start as well as a record of past consumption results.

Here's Part 2.

Source: http://toyotablog.co.za/blog-entry/new-yaris-hybrid-quiet-revolution-b-segment-part-1

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